Egypt’s military chief has issued an ultimatum of sorts – the army will intervene with its own solution if the country’s leaders don’t answer the demands of the people within 48 hours. Since protesters are demanding that Morsi resign, it’s unclear precisely what this means at this time. A written statement is expected to be released shortly.

The head of Egypt’s military has given the country’s politicians 48 hours to meet the demands of the people. General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi wants the politicians to agree an “inclusive” road map for the way ahead, he said in a statement on state television.

The head of Egypt’s armed forces gave politicians 48 hours on Monday to answer demands made by the Egyptian people or the military would offer its own “road map for the future.”

In a statement read on state television, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called mass protests on Sunday, which called for Islamist President Mohammed Morsi to resign, an “unprecedented” expression of the popular will.

Developing…

UPDATED 1:00pm EST with full statement from Egypt’s military, courtesy of NPR:

“Armed Forces asserts the following:

“The Armed Forces will not take part in the policy making and will not accept a role outside of the democratic framework set by the people.

“The nation’s national security is under threat following the latest developments, each side should exhibit responsibility.

“The Armed Forces had previously expected this instability, had given a week for the various forces to reach consensus and end the crisis, but this week passed with no action, which led the people to go on the streets, to express their freedom in a manner that impressed the local and international community.

“Wasting more time will not result except in more polarization and conflict. The people of Egypt have suffered for so long with no one to save them. Accordingly, the Armed Forces feels obligated to embrace the will of the people who proved they are ale to do the impossible.

“The Armed Forces renews its call and give the political forces a 48 hour ultimatum as a last chance to carry the burdens of this historic situation that the nation is going through.

“The Armed Forces calls upon everyone that if the people’s demands aren’t set within the timeframe, based on its historic and national obligation it will have to declare a roadmap and procedures that oversee to include all mainstreams including the youth who started this glorious revolution without excluding anyone.”

Livestream of protesters on the ground is available here in a separate window.

It sure would be nice for crowds of Americans to storm Washington demanding that the jug-earred Dear Leader leave office, and the military give the annointed one his 48-hour notice. I can dream, can’t I?

1) Noting that we have recently sent several hundred troops to Egypt, with riot control training [just enough to be sacrificed by Obama if he wants an incident]; will Obama try to rescue the Muslim Brotherhood regime he installed there?
1 a.) Why could we not have sent Homeland Security forces over there? They are trained to fire on civilians with no qualms.

1 b.) I know, it is because no one would care if they were over run.

2) Something to watch. The Department of Defense has already been barring news about the IRS targeting conservatives, the DOJ investigating reporters, and the NSA violating the 4th Amendment rights of all Americans from newscasts on DoD networks; I suspect that there may be hope left for the Constitution amongst our Warriors.

We will see if they try to bar news about military involvement in events in Egypt from the services.

3) There are mass demonstrations ongoing in Turkey. And the Turkish military has a century long history of guarding Turkey from those who would destroy Ataturk’s vision of a modern, secular, relatively democratic Turkey. Erdogan is a slightly more politically astute Morsi. Will the overthrow of the MB in Egypt, if it happens, encourage opposition to Erdogan?

4) The food shortages in Egypt increased the risk to Israel as it was increasing the likelihood that Morsi would provoke war, or at least unofficial attacks, on Israel as a distraction. For a short period post-coup, that risk would decline, allowing Israel to concentrate on other security threats in the region. However, after that short period, if the food supply hasn’t improved in Egypt the risk returns.

4 a.) will Obama and the EU continue or increase their foreign aid to Egypt so they can buy food, while they sort things out?

4 b.) will Obama and the EU cut off or reduce aid, triggering more starvation as revenge for their pet Islamists were overthrown?